While polling in Tripura will be held on February 18, Meghalaya and Nagaland will go to the polls on February 27.

"All the three states have their own peculiarities. The Election Commission has taken adequate measures to ensure free and fair election," Rawat told journalists after reviewing Meghalaya's poll-preparedness with election officials.

"We have directed the election machinery to be fearless, unbiased, neutral and independent from any influence whatsoever. Conduct and discharge of duties by election officials would be under constant watch of the Commission."

Moreover, he said the Commission has a strong belief that Meghalaya will be able to set a new benchmark by providing a totally free, fair, peaceful, credible, transparent inclusive and participative election.

Rawat said that during the visit, they met representatives of various political parties to understand their issues and concerns for holding free, fair and peaceful elections.

"Most of the political parties welcomed the Commission's decision to hold elections in the state and expressed satisfaction on poll arrangements."

Rawat said the state administration has been asked to take steps to tone up the security and the law and order environment.

"Strict vigil is being maintained to check the cross-border smuggling of drugs, liquor and other illicit items from neighbouring states. Meghalaya's international borders in border districts and also inter-state borders are also appropriately under surveillance."

Election authorities have so far seized Rs 17.25 lakh and over 20,000 litres of liquor in Meghalaya after the model code of conduct came into effect, said Rawat.

All the police check posts across the state are under webcasting and videography 24x7 for the entire period during the election.

To prevent the use of money and other illegal activities to influence voters, Rawat said that GPS has been brought for swift action so that flying squads can move in the direction from where the complaint has been received.

He said of the total 18,42,163 voters, 9,29,314 are women while there are also 2,621 service voters.

Mentioning that Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in all the 3,083 polling stations in the 60 assembly constituencies, Rawat said the Commission has directed that one polling station of each constituency be randomly selected and VVPAT slips from there be counted and matched with EVM results.

Looking at BJP's allegations against Meghalaya DGP: EC

Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat on Friday said they are yet to establish the facts on the allegations of the BJP accusing Swaraj Bir Singh, Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP), of campaigning for Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the February 27 assembly polls.

"The BJP has given a complaint and we are gathering the facts. Some facts are yet to reach us. We have not been able to lay our hands on anything," Rawat told journalists after reviewing the poll-preparedness of the state with senior election and government officials.

Initially, the legal cell of the National People's Party (NPP) had lodged a complaint against Singh. The NPP withdrew the complaint letter later.

"Whatever, fact that has been gathered till now was that NPP has withdrawn its complaint and BJP's complaint was that the Congress is using government officials, but so far we have not received anything on this issue but the process is on, whatever emerges the commission will take the necessary actions," Rawat said.

In a petition to the Chief Election Commissioner, the BJP on Thursday said that Singh, along with some other police officers, has been openly campaigning on behalf of the ruling Congress.

The BJP also accused Sangma, who belongs to and is contesting from Garo Hills, of the "ruse" of the revival of militancy in the area to rig elections in his constituency and demanded the deployment of Central armed police forces with police observers.

On the BJP's complaint that militancy has again raised its ugly head in the Garo Hills, Rawat said that the state police officials informed the election commission team that the charges are not serious but assured that strict vigil will be maintained to ensure free and fair polls.

"We will leave no stone unturned and the slightest aberration will be nipped in the bud," Rawat added.